why start a side business?

For those of you who have been around here for a while, you know that I’ve been doing this for a really long time. Like 14 years. Jewelry has been in my blood since the first beaded bracelet I made and sold my Freshman year of high school to earn money for Spring Break. It’s such a joy hearing the stories of what you all have stamped on your items – memorials, celebrations, words that impact your lives.

Owning your own business definitely has its perks: you choose your schedule, you get all of the profits, the flexibility and being your own boss is amazing. But there are also some potential downsides to owning your own business: never knowing exactly what your income will be, sometimes having to work long hours during busy seasons, not being able to shut off your mind.

Three years ago I started a small side business, simply because I felt like God had allowed me to go through some things in my health so that I would share what I was learning about food and natural living with others. I have loved this business and it brings me such fulfillment during the slower times with my jewelry business. There have been months where my side business has picked up the slack financially for us when the sales weren’t coming in here.

As a result, I have felt led lately to share with you all a challenge – why start a side business? This can be beneficial for so many, but especially those who already have a successful business. How? The readers and followers are already there. If you choose a side business that coordinates with what you are already passionate about and sharing, those followers will transfer over to your new business. I’m not talking about bugging all of your friends all day every day. I’m simply saying sharing what you love about this new venture in a natural way that fits with everyday life. Here are some examples:

Against All Grain – Danielle is a cookbook author and writes about Paleo living. Eating clean foods is super important to her. She just started on as a consultant with Beautycounter (makeup) and it fits with her current feed because the company is concerned about non-toxic makeup.

Livy Loves to Run – Diane gained a huge following when she lost 100 pounds by exercising and eating healthy. She recently started selling LipSense, which is an all-day lasting lipstick line. She’s doing really well with that and is building a brand new house as a result. While losing weight doesn’t really coordinate with selling lipstick, she wears her lipstick in some of her photos, which makes an easy transition for her followers that are interested.

These are just two examples of people who have huge Instagram followings who started a side business successfully. What if you don’t have a huge following? You can be successful at this too. I know of many friends who are hardly on social media that have created successful side businesses – some that are paying off mortgages and retiring their husbands. My friend Eva just shared the other day this great article about having a side job with your day job.

those who kept their day job while pursuing a personal venture on the side — or what the researchers called “hybrid entrepreneurship” — were 33 percent less likely to fail than those who quit their jobs altogether.

My side business is sharing wellness products with others. I love being able to make someone’s life better and I love that I can do it from anywhere (i.e. at a stoplight or on the beach). I love that I don’t have to carry inventory for my side job.There is such joy in hearing the testimonies of lives changed. The relationships I’ve built in this new business are invaluable to me. This doesn’t feel like a “job” to me, it truly is fun and fulfilling. If you want to learn more about my side business (which soon will likely surpass my jewelry income), please send me an email. I’d love to talk to you more about it and see if it’s right for you. If not, consider finding a network marketing business that does fit with your passions – it could change your life in wonderful ways.